Title: Abortion
1Abortion
- Lawyers Christian Fellowship
- 20 November 2006
2Beginning of Life Issues
- Abortion
- Contraception
- Artificial reproduction
- Designer babies
- Embryo research
- Cloning
- Gene therapy
3Abortion contradictions
- The healthcare system has departments of fetal
medicine, while also providing facilities and
staff to perform abortions - The law allows abortion for abnormalities right
up to term, but many babies born after only 23
weeks of pregnancy now survive - We encourage people to consider adoption, but
abortion is so widely accepted and available that
there are few babies to adopt
4Abortion contradictions
- We pass equal opportunity laws but work hard to
ensure that babies with disabilities are screened
out before birth - At the same time as we are reducing the status of
life before birth, medical technology is
literally changing our view of the fetus
5Abortion in the UK The facts
- UK law permits abortion of healthy babies up to
24 weeks - Babies suspected of having a disability can be
aborted up to birth - 6,231,033 babies have been aborted since the
Abortion Act 1967 became law - More than 200,000 babies are aborted in Britain
each year one in every four pregnancies
6How many is 6,231,033?
- More than 10 of the entire UK population
- More than the combined populations of Birmingham,
Bradford, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Chester,
Derby, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool,
Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northampton,
Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield - 5 times the UK casualties in two World Wars
7More specifically
- Early abortion figures have tripled since 1967
and continue to rise - More than 600 babies are aborted every day
- More than 3,000 a year are killed after 20 weeks
- Disabled babies can be aborted up to birth
- More than 450 babies were aborted in 2004 for
having Downs Syndrome
8Abortion worldwide
- 55 million abortions per year
- Major demographic changes with falling
birth-rates in Eastern Europe/ Former USSR - Major changes in sex ratios in India/China
995 of abortions occur between
10 and 20 weeks
- Half way through pregnancy
- Four weeks short of viability
11Why are abortions done?
- 95 of abortions are performed on Ground C, which
exempts a doctor from prosecution for performing
an abortion (before the 24th week) if -
- continuance of the pregnancy would involve
risk, greater than if the pregnancy were
terminated, of injury to the physical or mental
health of the pregnant woman
12Public opinion is changing
- Nine out of ten MPs want the abortion law to be
under CONTINUOUS review in light of advances in
medical science - 63 of MPs support a reduction in the six-month
upper age limit - Nearly two-thirds of the public want the
six-month upper age limit reduced now
13Public opinion is changing
- More than three-quarters of women support a
reduction in the six-month upper age limit - Public opinion poll finds that 81 of those who
expressed an opinion believe that ways should be
found of reducing the 200,000 abortions performed
each year in Britain - Even some in the abortion industry accept that
change must happen
14Why is public opinion changing?
- Developments in medical science have increased
our understanding of how babies develop in the
womb - The abortion of a baby at 28 weeks for cleft
palate shocked the nation - Newspapers and TV have revealed the abuse of
teenagers by a cash-driven abortion industry - Stories of abortion survivors in the media
15Why is public opinion changing?
- Questions are regularly raised in Parliament
concerning abortion clinics that harm women with
bad practice - Increasingly, evidence reveals that many women
suffer from depression after abortion - Extensive research shows that after abortion a
mother has an increased likelihood of subsequent
premature births
16Late Abortion
- 100 late abortions per year since 1991
- Recent case at 26 weeks for cleft palate
- Joanna Jepson
- Downs Syndrome
17Human development
- Six weeks
- Twelve weeks
- Eighteen weeks
18Life before birth on the media
- Prof Stuart Campbells ultrasounds
- Front page news
- Walking in the womb
- Yawning on video
19Abortion survivors
- Stories of botched abortions
- Stories of babies born alive after abortion
- Gianna Jessen
20History of abortion
- Practised in most societies at some level for
many centuries - Legalised abortion on a massive scale a 20th
century phenomenon
21Hippocratic Oath
- I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if
asked nor suggest such counsel nor in like
manner will I give a woman a pessary to produce
abortion
22Declaration of Geneva
- I will maintain the utmost respect for human life
from the time of conception, even under threat, I
will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the
laws of humanity - I will maintain the utmost respect for human life
from its beginning even under threat and I will
not use my medical knowledge contrary to the laws
of humanity - (Changes 1948-1994)
23International Code of Medical Ethics
- A doctor must always bear in mind the obligation
of preserving human life from conception. (1949) - A doctor must always bear in mind the obligation
of preserving human life. (1983)
24The Declaration of Oslo (1970)
- There is a 'diversity of attitudes towards the
life of the unborn child' -
- 'Where the law allows therapeutic abortion to be
performed... and this is not against the policy
of the national medical association' then
abortion 'should be performed' in circumstances
'where the vital interests of the mother conflict
with those of the unborn child'. -
- This declaration lays the framework for doctors
to perform abortions if their 'individual
conviction and conscience' allowed it and the law
and the national medical association were not in
disagreement.
25Changing Abortion Policy 1948-2000
- 'I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce
abortion.' Hippocratic Oath - 'I will maintain the utmost respect for human
life from the time of conception even against
threat...' The Declaration of Geneva (1948) - 'The spirit of the Hippocratic Oath can be
affirmed by the profession. It enjoins... the
duty of caring, the greatest crime being
destruction in the co-operation of life by
murder, suicide and abortion' BMA Statement
(1947)
26Changing Abortion Policy 1948-2000
- The child deserves 'legal protection before as
well as after birth'. The UN Declaration of the
Rights of the Child (1959) - 'Therapeutic abortion' (may be performed in
circumstances) 'where the vital interests of the
mother conflict with those of the unborn child'.
Declaration of Oslo (1970) - 'I will maintain the utmost respect for human
life from its beginning...' The Declaration of
Geneva (amended 1983) - 'Abortion is a basic health care need.' RCOG
(2000)
27Philosophical Shift C17-C20
- Theism
- Humans are created and morals are revealed
- Deism
- Humans are created and morals are discovered
- Atheism
- Humans have evolved and morals are discovered
- Existentialism
- Humans have evolved and morals are chosen
28Christian Principles
- The Sanctity of Life - Human beings are made in
the image of God (Genesis 127, 96, Exodus
2013) abortion involves killing a human being - Marriage is the proper context for sex (Genesis
224) 82 of abortions result from sex outside
marriage - The strong should make sacrifices for the weak
(John 1334-45 Galatians 62) abortion is an
abuse of the weak by the strong
29Sanctity of Life
- No discrimination on the basis of sex, race,
social standing (Gal 328) and age (Mt 1914) - Protection for the vulnerable poor (Pr
2222-23), widows and orphans (Ex 2222-24),
aliens (Ex 2221), handicapped (Lv 1914), slaves
(Ex 212-6) and elderly (Lv 1932) - Life before birth (Is 491 Je 15 Jb 108-9,
18-19 Gn 2522-23 Ps 229,10, 515, 716,
11973 Ec 115 Is 442,34 Ho 123 Mt 118 Lk
115, 41-44) - Over 60 references to conception
30Psalm 13913-16
- 13 For you created my inmost being you
knit me together in my mother's womb. - 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made your works are
wonderful, I know that full well. - 15 My frame was not hidden from you when
I was made in the secret place. When I
was woven together in the depths of the earth, - 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All
the days ordained for me were written in
your book before one of them came to be.
31Exodus 2122-25
- 22 If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman
and she gives birth prematurely but there is no
serious injury, the offender must be fined
whatever the woman's husband demands and the
court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury,
you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye,
tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25
burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise
(NIV) - 22If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so
that her fruit depart from her, and yet no
mischief follow he shall be surely punished,
according as the woman's husband will lay upon
him and he shall pay as the judges determine
(KJV)
32The sixth commandment
- You shall not murder (Ex 2013 Dt 517 Mt
1918 Rom 139) - Murder (Hb ratsach Gk phoneuo)
- The intentional killing of an innocent human
being (Ex 2112-14 Lv 2417-21 Nu 3516-31 Dt
194-13) - Distinguished from the killing of guilty human
beings in Holy War (Dt 2010-18), capital
punishment (over 20 offences) and self-defence
(Ex 222,3)
33Secular Principles
- Quality of life - Taking human life is justified
if it is of low quality and constitutes a burden
to others - Autonomy - The right to exercise sexual and
reproductive freedom and make moral choices
according to our own personal values - Compassion The avoidance of suffering
- Relativism Each person can choose their own
values
34Christian responses
- Quality of life Human life is precious by
virtue of being human and regardless of its
quality. The strong should protect the weak - Autonomy We are not free to make choices which
violate the reasonable freedoms of others - Compassion abortion is a actually potent cause
of suffering for both mother and baby - Relativism There are universally recognised
values, like sexual purity and the sanctity of
life, which all should respect
35The key question
- What is the unborn child worth and what
circumstances justify it being killed?
36Arguments against abortion
- Isn't the fetus only a potential human being?
-
- How can a non-sentient being have value?
-
- Don't women have a right to choose?
- Won't refusing abortion simply mean that women
and children suffer?
37Arguments against abortion
- Surely we can't return to the days of back street
abortionists and abortion tourism? - What about abortion for rape?
- What about abortion for fetal handicap?
- What about abortion to save the life of the
mother?
38Isnt the fetus only a potential human being?
- Isnt it rather a human being with potential or
a potential adult? - The fetus is both human and alive and therefore a
human being - The key question is what value we give that being
39How can a non-sentient being have value?
- Human value is not based on human
characteristics such as consciousness, awareness,
age, size or ability to communicate but simply on
being human - To kill a child in the womb is to discriminate on
the basis of non-morally relevant characteristics
like age, location or degree of consciousness
40Don't women have a right to choose?
- Autonomy has limits and we cannot make choices
which limit the reasonable freedoms of others - The fetus is not part of a womans body but a
genetically distinct human being
41Won't refusing abortion simply mean that women
suffer?
- Women who abort are 3.5 times more likely to die
within the year than women who have normal
births this includes deaths from suicide (seven
times), accidents (4x) and natural causes (1.6x)
(Finnish study 1987-1994) - Mental illness is a contraindication to abortion
(Royal College of Psychiatrists) and depression
and psychiatric admissions are higher after
abortion than normal birth - There is an acknowledged link between abortion of
the first pregnancy and breast cancer (Brind,
2005) - Abortion increases the risk of subsequent pelvic
infection and infertility
42Post-abortion syndrome
- Much more common if previous mental illness,
religious background and ambiguity about
abortion. - Abortion does not end all the problems it often
just exchanges one set for another (Francis
Schaeffer)
43Wont refusing abortion simply mean the children
suffer through abuse and deprivation?
- Most abused children come from wanted pregnancies
- The incidence of child abuse has doubled since
the Abortion Act came into force - Most unwanted pregnancies, if not aborted, result
in wanted children. - Adoption is always an option and there is lots of
support for unmarried mothers
44Surely we can't return to the days of back street
abortionists and abortion tourism?
- Claims of thousands of deaths before the 1967
Abortion Act were wildly exaggerated - Most back-street abortions before the Abortion
Act were performed by doctors - UK maternal deaths from abortion had fallen to
less than 20 per year by the time of the Abortion
Act - In Poland following a 1993 change in the law
abortions fell dramatically from 180,000 a year
to 150 without any increase in maternal deaths
45What about abortion for rape?
- Rape is an extremely serious crime but
- Pregnancy following rape is extremely rare and
far less than 1 of abortions are performed
following alleged rape - Rape sacrifices a second innocent victim (Should
the baby die for the crime of its father?) - In the only major study of pregnant rape victims
ever done, 75 to 85 chose against abortion
46What about abortion for fetal handicap?
- Fetal handicap accounts for far less than 1 of
all UK abortions - It now extends to viable children with remediable
conditions (eg cleft palate) - Over 450 Downs syndrome children (over half the
total) are now aborted annually - Why do we tolerate destruction of children with
special needs before but not after birth?
47What about abortion to save the life of the
mother?
- Only 0.013 of UK abortions are performed 'to
save the life of the mother' - there are no medical circumstances justifying
direct abortion, that is, no circumstances in
which the life of the mother may only be saved by
directly terminating the life of her unborn
child'. (Irish obstetricians, 1992) - Of 21 maternal deaths among 74,317 pregnancies at
the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin from
1970-1979, abortion wouldn't have saved the
mother's life in a single case
48The middle way (John 81-11)
- Prevention of unplanned pregnancy
- Legal protection for the baby
- Care for the mother (CARE Centres Network)
- Promotion of adoption
49Legal protection for the baby
- Dangers of making things worse (1991)
- Problems with a change solely aimed at bringing
down upper limit - Impossibility of an all or nothing approach
(Poland and South Dakota)
50Bringing about legal change
- Broad coalitions (Alive and Kicking)
- Prime focus on changing public opinion
- Specific legal interventions (upper limit for
handicap, separating psych and physical
indications, accurate recording of complications)
- Changing medical opinion guidance of RCOG and
RCPsych on psychological effects of abortion and
resuscitation guidelines
51Specific opportunities
- Private members ballot
- 40th anniversary of Abortion Act October 2007
52Alive and Kicking
- A powerful alliance of nine organisations
- CARE
- Christian Medical Fellowship
- Comment on Reproductive Ethics
- Evangelical Alliance
- Guild of Catholic Doctors
- Lawyers Christian Fellowship
- LIFE
- ProLife Alliance
- Student LifeNet
53Alive and Kicking
- Aims and goals
- Our near-term objective is to halve the yearly
abortions from 200,000 to 100,000 per year
54Alive and Kicking Aims
- An immediate, substantial reduction in the upper
age limit for abortion. - Eliminating discriminatory abortion of disabled
babies up to birth. - Proper enforcement of the abortion law as
originally intended. - A prohibition of abortions for social
convenience. - A Charter of Informed Consent drawn up to ensure
women are made aware of medical and psychological
risks associated with abortion. - A cooling-off period between diagnosis of
pregnancy and access to abortion. - Provision of compassionate alternatives to
abortion - Increasing support for families with disabled
children - Guaranteed regular reviews of the abortion law.
55Useful addresses
- CARE Centres Network
- (www.careconfidential.com)
-
- Alive and Kicking (www.aliveandkickingcampaign.org
) - Christian Medical Fellowship
- (www.cmf.org.uk)
- Elliott Institute
- (afterabortion.org)